Raphael Network2023-09-11T17:00:36+10:00

Australian Network of Catholic Mental Health Care Professionals

Background

Founded in 2022 under the patronage of St Raphael (archangel and patron saint for healing), the Raphael Network is an informal association that brings together Catholic mental health practitioners and supporters who serves people seeking restoration in body, mind, and spirit.

Vision and Mission

The Raphael Network has a vision for the development of an intentional Catholic Standard of Mental Health Care.

We believe that a Catholic Standard for Mental Health Care will be one that has as its source and summit in the Revelation of God in Jesus Christ (John 14:6), and what this reveals to us about what it means to be human: “Christ the new Adam, in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and of his love, fully reveals man to himself and brings to light his most high calling” (Redemptor Hominis, 8).

Drawing upon the psychological sciences, and the spiritual and pastoral care tradition of the Church, the Network seeks to encourage the application of mental health therapy and care that fully supports this vision for human flourishing.

It supports this vision through:

  • The provision of opportunities for mental health care practitioners to network and receive peer supervision and support;
  • The provision of professional development and formation towards the theory and practice of an intentional Catholic Standard of Mental Health Care.

In this context, we believe in the importance of the collective to live out our vocational calling in virtue and professionalism, and we ground ourselves in the magisterial teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church.

The Raphael Network is founded and moderated by Anthony Kendrick, Erica Schuman, Leonie Nahhas, Francine Pirola, Shawn van der Linden. This group (Leadership Team) forms the management and administration team for the network.

Priestly guidance and Spiritual Direction is provided by several members of the clergy who are associated with the Network.

The Leadership Team meets periodically to plan meetings, discuss new member applications and plan events.

The Network does not engage in advocacy or political lobbying and is established as an informal association only.

The Raphael Network does not provide therapy itself, and does not endorse, guarantee, or warrant the credentials, work, abilities or opinions of any individual practitioner. It does not provide any assurances or warranties regarding the suitability of a practitioner within, or referred by, the Network or the outcome of any treatment.

The Raphael Network is open to a diversity of mental health care practitioners. This may include accredited and non-accredited Mental Health Professionals, and also practitioners engaged in Pastoral Mental Health Care Support roles such as marriage formators, mentors, chaplains, Catholic coaches, religious and clergy.

Aspiring members are required to apply via an online form, provide a reference from a priest in their local place of worship, along with contact details and qualifications. Applicants are interviewed by phone and their application reviewed by members of the Leadership Team who will advise them of the outcome. Once approved, the applicant is given access to the MS Team meetings and Network chat.

Members are required to affirm their ongoing commitment to the Raphael Network annually and update contact details via online form.

Members are free to leave the Network at any time and should advise the administrator so that they can be removed from the various communication and technical tools. The Leadership Team reserves the right to remove a member should they judge a member is not suited to the Network, or who is inactive for a year or more, or who fails to reaffirm their membership annually.

No membership fees are currently required. Donations are gratefully received.

  • Online meetings take place approximately twice per quarter (corresponding to the school term) for one hour. These will ordinarily include input from a Speaker (guest or member) and discussion. Topics will include a Catholic lens or application.
  • An annual in-person retreat is hosted in March/April or there abouts.
  • In-person social events are held in December and July and are organised by local members.
  • A calendar of events will be published annually and updated as required.

  • MS Teams: The Raphael Network uses MS Teams which is currently supported through in-kind support by the Marriage Resource Centre. MS Teams hosts video conferences, chat, file sharing and contact lists for the Network.
  • Members need to download the MS Teams app to their computer (free) to access all these functions. (While members can connect via their web browser, many features are limited). There are also smart phone apps in the apple/google play store to which an account can be linked.
  • WhatsApp is used for informal communication between members and can be downloaded from the apple/google play store

To avoid communications becoming overloaded or spammed, members agree to post only content (articles, events, resources etc) that are aligned with the Raphael Network mission. The Leadership Team reserves the right to moderate all content and discussion.

The Network is working to develop a way for potential clients to find a member’s services. This will likely be via an online, searchable database. Members who opt to be listed on the Referral Database will need to provide contact details and description of their service for public access.

Code of Conduct

The Raphael Network leadership team reserves the right to remove a member for persistent and/or serious breaches of conduct.

Members agree to …

  1. Be respectful of Catholic teaching during discussions.
  2. Be courteous to all participants.
  3. Follow the directions of moderators during meetings.
  4. Only share content (eg advertisements or articles) relevant to members (ie no spamming).
  5. Keep member identities and opinions confidential unless express permission to share outside the network is given.
  6. Confirm membership each year.

Apply For Membership

Resources for Catholic Mental Health Professionals

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Leadership Team 2023

Anthony Kendrick

Leonie Nahhas

Erica Schuman

Shawn van der Linden

Francine Pirola profile pic

Francine Pirola

Fr Michael de Stoop (Clergy Delegate)

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2023 Calendar

(Times in AEST/AEDT)

  • March 10-12 – Retreat  | Time: 3pm | Details: Life’s healing Journey – Fr Ed Travers – Jamberoo Abbey

  • Mon, May 8 – Online Meeting 2 | Time: 8pm | Topic: Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child? Attachment-based parenting

  • Mon, Jun 5 – Online Meeting 3 | Time: 8pm | A Catholic Standard for Mental Health Care: Dr Greg Bottaro

  • July TBC | In-person social | Venue TBC – local groups

  • Mon, Aug 7 – Online Network Meeting 4 | Time: 8pm | Aquinas and the Emotions | Fr Tony Percy

  • Mon, Sep 4 – Online Network Meeting 5 | Time: 8pm | Epidemiology of gender dysphoria and current evidence for treatment |Dr Matthew Lennon

  • Mon, Nov 13 – Online Network Meeting 6 | Time: 8pm | Little Known Catholic Pioneers in Modern Psychology

  • Sat, Dec 2 – Christmas Social | Time: 5pm | Homebush (Mass follow by dinner).